EVENTWORLD FROM A SPONSOR’S PERSPECTIVE

EVENTWORLD FROM A SPONSOR’S PERSPECTIVE

By Kathy Costello
Russos Gourmet Catering

My first encounter with Eventworld was a happy coincidence since it occurred in
St. Louis, many summers ago. Now that it is coming back here, I’m more excited
than ever! I was a fairly new ISES member, and got caught up in a wave of
enthusiasm that carried me into uncharted territories. And, in some ways, I credit
that experience with turning the corner for my participation and membership in
our ISES chapter.

On behalf of my company, I agreed to participate as one of the sponsors of the
Welcome Event, which was held at the Chase Park Plaza. We were teamed
with a décor company out of California, working with Joe Scarna and his team,
to create an African Safari themed interactive experience. I use the term
loosely, as it was that and so much more. It was my first time of collaborating
with another company to share production and execution of an event, and they
pulled out all of the stops. We had everything from costumes, props and rain
forest foliage to a bridge with running water, and headdresses for our chefs.
Even more exciting, as I visited all of the other interactive stations, each was
phenomenal in its scope and production. At that event, I literally fell in love with
the potential for events, and how caterers could partner with other companies to
gain this kind of business.

Granted, the much greater percentage of our business comes in packages
clearly more typical and less over-the-top. But once you’ve experienced this
level of teamwork and production, you know that you have unlimited access to
imagination and successful partnerships. My membership in ISES took on a
different aspect, and I began to see the other members are true resource for
success. Attending subsequent Eventworlds provided both professional and
personal growth opportunities, fresh perspective, renewed enthusiasm and
benefits far beyond my expectations.

Fast forward to an exciting footnote for me: This year, I am participating in
Eventworld in a whole new way….as a presenter for the track called Event
Bootcamp for Emerging Professionals. Teamed up with an impressive
core ‘faculty’, I fully expect to once again come away with a new wealth of
knowledge, even as I prepare to share with just the sort of newcomer as I once
was. What could be more fun??